Strive Masiyiwa is not merely a billionaire; he represents resilience, innovation, and quiet defiance. In a continent where entrepreneurship often clashes with political authority, the Zimbabwean telecom magnate made history by taking on Robert Mugabe’s government in a landmark legal battle that spanned five (5) years.
Masiyiwa was not simply pursuing a business licence. He was fighting for the very future of telecommunications in Zimbabwe.
From his formative years as an engineering student to establishing one of Africa’s most influential telecom empires, his journey is a testament to vision, integrity, and an unshakeable belief in the power of technology to uplift communities.
ALSO READ: Top 10 weakest African currencies in 2025
This is the story of a man who dared to challenge entrenched power, and in doing so, helped reshape the African business landscape.
)
Early Life and Foundation
Born in 1961, Masiyiwa’s early life was defined by displacement and determination. His family fled Zimbabwe during the liberation struggle, seeking refuge in the United Kingdom. There, he pursued his studies in electrical engineering at the University of Wales.
This period in exile deeply influenced his worldview and nurtured a passion for connecting Africa through technology.
Returning to Zimbabwe in the 1980s, Masiyiwa began his career as an engineer before founding a small electrical contracting firm. However, his entrepreneurial spirit and technical insight soon led him to the transformative potential of telecommunications, a sector then dominated by state monopolies and hampered by underdeveloped infrastructure.
ALSO READ: Bill Gates slips out of top 10 richest people in the world - See latest rankings
The Battle That Changed Everything
)
The defining moment of Masiyiwa’s career came in the early 1990s when he sought to establish Zimbabwe’s first privately owned mobile telecom company. What should have been a straightforward business venture quickly escalated into a five-year-long legal confrontation with Robert Mugabe’s administration, which zealously guarded its control over the telecommunications sector.
Masiyiwa’s refusal to yield in the face of intimidation, bureaucracy, and legal stonewalling underscored his firm belief that communication is a fundamental right, not a tool for governmental manipulation.
In 1998, after exhausting all legal avenues, Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court ruled in his favour, granting him the licence to operate Econet Wireless Zimbabwe. The victory was more than personal. It broke the state monopoly and catalysed the liberalisation of telecommunications across Africa.
ALSO READ: Top 10 African countries with the highest personal income tax in 2025
Building a Continental Empire
)
From that hard-fought beginning, Masiyiwa laid the foundation for what would become one of Africa’s largest telecom conglomerates. Launched with just a handful of subscribers, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe now serves over 16 million users, transforming how Zimbabweans connect, access information, and conduct business.
Yet Masiyiwa’s ambitions were never confined to Zimbabwe. Recognising that Africa’s future hinged on connectivity, he expanded Econet’s footprint across the continent. Today, his operations span from Southern Africa to the Sahel, connecting nations and bridging digital divides.
ALSO READ: 6 interesting things Ghana and Zimbabwe have in common despite being 4,200km apart
Under his stewardship, the Econet Group evolved into a diversified technology powerhouse. Its subsidiary, Cassava Technologies, has emerged as a key player in Africa’s digital transformation, offering services ranging from mobile money to cloud computing. Meanwhile, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, another arm of the business, now operates the continent’s largest independent fibre-optic network. This network stretches over 100,000 kilometres across 14 countries.
Pioneering Mobile Money and Digital Innovation
)
Long before mobile money became a hallmark of African innovation, Masiyiwa’s enterprises were at the forefront. His team developed EcoCash, one of Zimbabwe’s most widely used mobile money platforms, which proved indispensable in a country plagued by economic instability and limited banking infrastructure.
ALSO READ: Inside Africa's coldest country filled with glaciers, snow and ice and -29C temperatures
EcoCash was not merely a business success. It was a social lifeline. Masiyiwa grasped that technology should serve practical needs, particularly in contexts where basic financial services are inaccessible.
His companies continually innovate to address Africa’s unique challenges, from unreliable electricity to inadequate banking systems. This reflects a deep commitment to building technologies tailored to the continent’s needs.
A Lifelong Commitment to Education and Youth Empowerment
)
Masiyiwa’s most profound impact arguably lies in his investment in education and youth. Together with his wife, Tsitsi, he founded the Higherlife Foundation in 1996. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded scholarships to more than 250,000 young Africans, transforming the life trajectories of countless individuals.
ALSO READ: 10 reasons Ghana and Nigeria are the real twins of West Africa ; you can’t separate them
The foundation does far more than disburse funds. It supports over 40,000 orphans through comprehensive educational programmes, underpinned by the conviction that education is the key to breaking cycles of poverty and fostering long-term development.
Masiyiwa views philanthropy not as charity but as strategic nation-building. He firmly believes that Africa’s progress depends on empowering its human capital. His educational initiatives have produced engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders, many of whom are now contributing meaningfully to their communities and beyond.
Global Recognition and Strategic Influence
)
Masiyiwa’s reach extends far beyond Africa. He sits on the boards of global corporations such as Unilever and Bank of America, lending African perspectives to international decision-making. His appointments are a testament to his reputation for strategic thinking and his insight into emerging markets.
ALSO READ: Top 10 African universities with the most respected certificates
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Masiyiwa played a crucial role on the African Union’s task force, coordinating procurement and distribution of medical supplies. His leadership ensured that Africa had a voice in the global health arena at a time when many feared the continent would be sidelined.
Championing Africa’s Digital Future
Despite his many accomplishments, Masiyiwa continues to look ahead. His recent partnership with tech giant Nvidia to establish an AI factory in Africa reflects a visionary commitment to keeping the continent at the forefront of technological progress.
This initiative embodies Masiyiwa’s ethos that Africa must not simply be a consumer of global technology. It must also be a creator and innovator. His goal is an Africa that competes in the digital economy on equal footing with the rest of the world.
ALSO READ: Meet Jasmine Paolini: The Italian star of Ghanaian descent shaking the tennis world
Challenges, Tenacity and Innovation
Masiyiwa’s path has been far from easy. Beyond his early legal battles, he has contended with political instability, shifting regulatory environments, and economic crises. His companies have endured inflation, currency devaluation, and inconsistent government policies, realities that have toppled many African businesses.
But where others saw obstacles, Masiyiwa saw opportunities. When banks faltered, he pioneered mobile money. When infrastructure was lacking, he built private networks. His resilience lies in a relentless ability to innovate in the face of adversity.
ALSO READ: Top 10 African countries with the best democracies
Legacy and Lasting Impact
)
Strive Masiyiwa’s legacy cannot be measured by his wealth alone. His influence is visible in millions of Africans who now have access to mobile services, in the students whose lives have been changed by scholarships, and in the industries transformed by his innovation.
ALSO READ: Top 10 most peaceful countries in Africa 2025 - Latest ranking
The telecom revolution he helped unleash has irreversibly altered how Africans communicate, transact, and participate in the global economy. From mobile banking to online education, services now considered routine can trace their roots to Masiyiwa’s early defiance and vision.
Today, he ranks as the 21st richest man in Africa according to Forbes’ Africa billionaires rankings.
Conclusion
Strive Masiyiwa’s life is a portrait of transformation: of himself, his country, and his continent. From a determined young engineer to a global tech magnate and philanthropist, he has reshaped the narrative of African possibility.
ALSO READ: Meet Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong 'The Snow Leopard': Ghana’s first Winter Olympian
His story is a reminder that true success is not just measured in profit but in purpose. By empowering others, challenging injustice, and leading with integrity, Strive Masiyiwa continues to inspire a generation of African entrepreneurs, innovators, and dreamers to reach higher and build a more connected, inclusive future.